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If you need to sell your house fast in Tampa due to a relocation for work, a divorce, or because you need to quickly cash out your home’s equity, the two best strategies are: 1) seek out a cash offer, or 2) work with a top real estate agent. In this guide, we will review the pros and cons of each approach to help you decide which makes the most sense for your home sale.

Option 1: Sell your Tampa house fast for cash

HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S. We use the information you provide about your home plus local neighborhood data to get you a great cash offer, allowing you to close in as little as 10 days.

Simple Sale saves time in other ways since clients can skip repairs, home prep, and showings while still receiving a strong offer from our network.

HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is BBB accredited with an A+ rating. The company has 4.6 stars on Google based on more than 500 user reviews.

Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform whenever you’re ready. Receive your offer within a week and close in as little as 10 days. No showings, no repairs, no open houses. Available to sellers in Tampa and throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Who else will buy your Tampa house for cash?

In Tampa, cash buyers are often looking for investment properties they can turn into either short-term or long-term rentals. Because the city is a vacation destination, investors may be looking for a property they can purchase and start renting out quickly on sites like Airbnb. Other cash buyers look for distressed homes or properties in need of significant repairs that can be purchased at a discount and then renovated and resold for a profit.

iBuyers are real estate technology companies that use digital tools to buy homes directly from sellers using cash.

Investors often purchase homes to rent them, either as long-term housing or as short-term vacation properties, as is common in Tampa.

Home flippers buy properties in disrepair, renovate them and then sell them for a profit. They often have the ability to offer sellers quick cash offers.

“A cash buyer in our market is typically looking for almost something — I wouldn’t say turnkey — but that is more of a lipstick-type remodel on a newer home,” says Andrew Duncan, a HomeLight Elite agent in Tampa, who sells homes 57% quicker than the average Tampa agent.

Let’s take a look at some local companies that buy houses for cash in Tampa.

Cash buyers in Tampa

Tampa Fast Home Buyer: This real estate investment firm provides cash offers to sellers whose homes meet their purchasing criteria. Sellers can expect to close in as little as seven days. Once purchased, they either make repairs and flip the home or keep it as a rental. Tampa Fast Home Buyer has been BBB accredited since February 2021 and holds an A + rating. The company has 5.0 out of 5.0 stars on Google with 31 reviews.

Emperor House Buyers LLC: Emperor House Buyers LLC is a Tampa-based real estate company that provides sellers with cash offers on their homes and strives to close in as few as seven days. They have experience working with clients who have faced foreclosure, inherited homes, divorce, and more. Emperor House Buyers LLC has been BBB accredited since June 2022 and holds an A- rating. It has 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on Google with 10 reviews.

Cash House Buyers Tampa: If you’ve inherited a home that needs work and want to sell it quickly, Cash House Buyers Tampa may be for you. The company specializes in working with inherited houses and distressed homes. According to its website, sellers can close in as little as seven days, and sometimes even sooner. Cash House Buyers Tampa has 4.8 out of 5.0 stars on Google with 15 reviews. The company is not listed as BBB accredited but holds an A+ rating.

Sell Quick Tampa: If you’re in a rush to sell your home, Sell Quick Tampa might be a good fit for you. The firm makes cash offers on qualifying homes in as little as 24 hours, and sellers can get paid in as few as seven days, according to its website. Sell Quick Tampa has 5.0 out of 5.0 stars on Google with 35 reviews.

Pros and cons of selling your Tampa home for cash

As with anything, there are pros and cons to selling your home quickly for cash.

Pros

Fast closing: A cash sale is significantly faster than a traditional mortgage-backed home purchase, often allowing you to close in as few as three to 10 days.
No repairs needed: You can sell your home as-is, in most cases, with no repairs or renovations.
No fees or commissions: Many cash buyers will cover closing costs and fees.
No showings or open houses: You won’t have to stage the home for listing photos or prepare the property for showings or open houses.
No obligation until you commit: After you receive a no-obligation offer, you can compare it to other offers. You can even consult a Realtor for comparisons.
Step away from a problem: With a fast cash sale, you can often avoid dealing with problem tenants or potential foreclosure.
No contingencies: Cash buyers can waive contingencies that can make negotiations difficult, namely the financing contingency and appraisal contingency.
No negotiating: You won’t have to deal with multiple buyers or the pressure of back-and-forth negotiating on price, credits, or repairs.
Move on with life: If you inherited a home, facing divorce, dealing with a death, or having financial challenges, a cash sale can help you move on from the home and possibly resolve some issues faster.

Cons

Lower sale price: Cash sales typically result in a lower selling price than a traditional sale with the help of a qualified real estate agent.
Repairs cost may be deducted: If the home does need major repairs, the cost of those may be deducted from the offer, depending on the cash buyer.
May be harder to find a buyer: Depending on the condition or location of your home, you may have limited cash buyer options, especially if you have a unique property that will be harder for investors to flip.
You’ll need to vet companies: It’s important to do research on “we buy houses for cash” companies to make sure they are legitimate and reputable.
Transparency may be limited: Some cash buyers won’t share their home evaluation process or how they calculated their offer, which is sometimes reduced last minute.
Hidden fees: As you vet cash buyers, watch for hidden or unexpected fees. Read your purchase contract carefully before signing.

Option 2: Work with a top agent to sell fast in Tampa

Working with a top agent in Tampa can be a good option for sellers who would like to sell faster than average but who have some time to devote to a traditional sale vs. an instant cash offer.

“One of the most important steps of selling your home fast is working with an agent that knows the market,” Duncan says.

Top listing agents know the ins and outs of the local market and can help you price your home right so it garners interest from buyers. An experienced agent can also help you determine what to fix and what not to fix when preparing your home for sale.

HomeLight data shows that not only do top agents sell their clients’ homes more quickly than average agents, but the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. They also sell homes 10%-50% faster than the average agent.

How fast are homes selling in Tampa?

Though homes have been selling quickly in the city in recent years, rising interest rates and inflation fears have played a role in reducing the number of buyers in the market. Here’s a snapshot of current real estate and economic conditions in Tampa:

	As of March 2023
Days on Market (median time to contract)	39 days
Median time to close the sale	83 days
Population growth year over year	+ 1.09%
Median sales price	$389,995
Percentage of homes sold for cash	26.5%
Supply of inventory	1.9 months
Number of new listings year over year	-15.5%
Number of closed home sales year over year	-19.4%

Source: Florida Realtors and Norada, sales data for single-family homes

10 strategies to sell a home fast in Tampa

1. Set your price competitively

In any market, pricing your home right is key to generating interest in a property and bringing in competitive offers. It’s even more important when you’re trying to sell quickly but want to balance proceeds with speed.

An experienced top agent will perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set the best price to sell a house fast in your market.

If you’re curious about your home’s current value, try HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. While it shouldn’t dictate your final pricing strategy, an online home value estimate can give you a ballpark price range. You can get a preliminary estimate in less than two minutes.

2. Refresh your home’s curb appeal

Landscaping your home’s exterior with colorful, sun-friendly plants can increase a home’s sale value by anywhere from 1% to 10%. “For less than $1,000, you can really spruce up the curb appeal of a home,” Duncan says. Plus, it can help make a good first impression with buyers. “The outside of the home is a reflection of what the inside is going to look like,” says Liz Piedra, a top-performing real estate agent in the Tampa Bay area with more than 20 years of experience.

3. Showcase your outdoor area

Tampa home shoppers love usable outdoor space. Extending your living space outdoors can be extremely appealing to Tampa buyers. Consider how you might transform your outdoor area into an attractive oasis. This might include adding a full furniture set, smoker, and television to watch the Buccaneers on a Saturday night. If you have a pool, show it off. According to Piedra, homes with pools are more likely to sell quickly.

4. Create a vacation-ready look

Duncan says that Tampa buyers are often looking for turnkey properties that have a vacation feel to their interior design. Whether they’re retirees looking for a beach getaway or cash buyers looking for an investment property, they’re looking for homes whose decor gives off a modern, coastal feel. However, don’t overdo it with seashells or beach-themed decor. Instead, tasteful reminders of the beauty of the ocean combined with sleek, modern finishes are winners with Tampa buyers.

5. Do the brunt work upfront

Oftentimes, sellers are eager to get their house on the market and will forgo essential renovations. Experienced agents all agree that new listings get the most exposure, so make sure your house is in optimal shape when you put it on the market.

6. Make the home stand out

Similar to improving curb appeal and enhancing your outdoor space, it’s important that you make your home seem “special” before you list it. Add fresh paint where needed, update outdated trends in the home, and do a deep clean to make sure the home is in top condition.

7. Hire a professional photographer and videographer

According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, 97% of homebuyers use the internet in their search for a home. That means buyers will likely first view the property via the photos and videos you post in a listing. High-quality pictures and videos give buyers the best view and perspective on a property when viewed online.

8. Advertise your neighborhood’s walkability

Walkability is important for many Tampa buyers. This makes it important for sellers to highlight parks, coffee shops, and local restaurants in the neighborhood.

9. Promote additional space for lodging

If your property has an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU), such as a mother-in-law cottage, emphasize this in your listing. If you are selling a home with large square footage, leverage this.

10. Take advantage of market timing

Along with the recommendations above, it can be helpful to know the level of market activity in your area during different times of the year. HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator uses housing market data for your area to show you the best and worst months to sell your home. See when is the best time to sell a house if you want to make the most money and which months are best to sell your house fast.

Ready to sell your Tampa home?

A top real estate agent in Tampa can help you navigate the many nuances that you might not otherwise discover until you’re swamped in the process. Their organization efficiencies and marketing expertise can help you sell your Tampa house fast.

If you need an even faster sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in Tampa. If you don’t have the time or the means to prepare your home or move through the traditional listing process, you can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer within a week.

I Need to Sell My House Fast in Tampa: What Are My Options?

Option 1: Sell your Tampa house fast for cash

Sell Your Tampa House Fast With an All-Cash Offer